Motor-vehicle.



C. B. STEELE.

' MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,'1907.

Patented July 11, 1916.

8 SHEETSSHEET I.

' MINE SEES:

C. B. STEELE.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1907.

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MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,1907. 1 ,19 1,1 32. Patented July 11, 1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

c. B. STEELE. MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28.1907.

Patented July 11, 1916.

B SHEETS-SHEET 4.

C. B. STEELE.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, I907.

1 l 9 1 1 32. Patented July 11, 1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5- 5a gill/l c. B, STEELE.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28.1907.

1 1 9 l 1 32. Patented July 11, 1916.

. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 6. KXQ

** u W x C. B STEELE.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1907.

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8 SHEETSSHEET 7.

na'r' g C. B. STEELE.

' MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28. 1907.

Patented July 11, 1916.

8 SHEETS SHEET 8.

y b1 one:

class of power. comprising a motor vehicle CJI OFFICE.

' CHARLES BREWSTER STEEL 9F lmw YORK, N. Y.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed June 28, 1907. Serial No 381,32 4. I

To all whom it may conccrn Be it known that I. CnAnLEs BREWSTER STEELE.citizen of the United States. residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is a vehicle, adapted to be propelled by. any type ofengine and any mercantile truck, possessing few parts, great strength,durability, reliability. eliiciency, highest speed percentage withlowest .percentage of horse-power. simplicity of man agen'icnt andoperation, innovation of conveniences for the operator. minimum cost ofmaintenance. and consists broadly of the following elemental features:an arrangement of running'gear to allow the vehicle to be guided in anydirection upon any radii of a circle from the center of its own axis:steering devices located at each end to enable the operator to drive thevehicle with equal facility from either end a subsidiary framesupporting and so cushioning the motor,

driving. and operating mechanism that the usual shocks and jars whichdisarrange said mechanism will be eliminated: complete isolation of themotor. the main power shaft, the transn'iis sion shaft. and the speedvarying mechanism from the freight carrying platform: the mounting ofthe driving and steering shafts directlybeneath the freight carryingplatforn'i. and flexibly connecting them to the live axles. steeringaxles. and transmission shaft. to allow relative movement of theirrespective parts; duplicate steering and speed changing posts formingduplicate .speedomcters: duplicate seats; duplicate gates; and duplicatehousing repositories: all so constriwted and secured that they may beeasily. quickly. and conveniently adjusted into and out of operativeposition to enable the vehicle to be operated. with equal facility ateither end. all of which is hereinafter more fully described in thespecilication. designated in the'claims. and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in

which like numerals refer to like parts in the,

different figures. respectively.

Figure 1. is a plan view of skeletons of the platform. and subsidiaryframe. showing their respective imlependent] flexible supports adaptedto isolate the motor. the transmission, and operating mechanism, fromthe ings.

. gears.

freight and load carrying receptacle, con structed to permit thetraction wheels to turn upon an angle of one hundred. and eightydegrees. Fig. 2. is a side elevation showing the platforni. andsubsidiary frame, mounted on their respective independent flexiblesupports, the traction Wheels turned at right angles to the axis of theframe, the duplicate operating and steering handles, repositories. theduplicate seats,

and duplicate gates. Fig. 3, is aplan View of the motor-vehicle with theplatform "brokenout showing the entire. operating 1110(7112111IS111, theduplicate steering mecha- 'nism. and the duplicate housings for theoperating and steering handles, constructed to permit the tractionwheels tobe turned upon any angle up to one hundred and eighty degrees.Fig. l, is a side elevation of the motor vehicle, showing the driving,operating. and steering mechanism, and the duplicate housings, for theoperating and steering handles. and duplicate seat hous- Fig. '5. is anelevation of one end of the vehicle. showing the driving, operating, andsteering mechanism. an axle, its knuckles, differential gear, steeringaxle and supporting brackets. and alternative steering gear. Fig. (i; isa per 'iendicular section of a knuckle. with a hub on its spindle, andits operating gears. Fig. 7. is a perpendicular section of the steeringaxle, showing the alternative steering gear and its operating mechaiism. Fig. 3. is a perpendicularsection of the differential gear. Fig.9. is a side complementary spring, each fastenedto the axle andsubsidiary frame, respectively. Fig. 14. is a perspective view of a typeof a dash-potpiston. showing its counterbalance cavities. Fig. 15. is aside. elevation, showing relative positions of a transmission anddriving gear. Fig. '16. is a perpendicular seetion of one of theduplicate steering and Q arating this member of the Vehicle, whichoperating posts and handles and mechanism, showing a worm gear in andout of operative position. portion of an axle su )porting'a bracket andright angle driving gear. Fig. 18, is an elevation, showing manner ofkeeping the differential gear in operative position with the tractionwheels, by means of the axle and brace. Fig. 19, is a side elevationofthe driving, operating, and. steering mechanism, their respective shaftand gear brackets,

showing the axles in cross section at a. point indicated by dotted line19-19 in Fig. 5. Fig. 20,, is a plan view of the speed varyingmechanism, forming a speedometer. Fig.

21, is a cross section'of the side beams of the I ble two-partswivel-seat. -The numeral 1, represents .the freight carryingplatform,,or body of the vehicle, independently supported on thepeculiarly curved springs 2, which are'fastened, by any suitable means,to the end and side beams. of the platform, substantially, in theposition;

shown, affording a better distributionpof weight and resiliency, thus,completely sepreceives the heavier shocksand jars ofthe road, inaddition to those of freight handling, from the member carrying themotor,

driving, and operating mechanism. The. numeral 3, representsthesubsidiary frame, which is independently and compoundly cushioned andsupported on the springs 4, and dash-pots 5, which are both secured tothe said subsidiary frame and the axles 6, respectively.

The frame 3, is madewith recesses, or wheel-ports 7, formed, to,complementarily, with the curved sprin s 2. receive the traction wheels8, when turned upon any steering angle, and permit the vehicle to beguided in any direction upon any radii of a circle from the center ofits own axis. The subsidiary frame may also have its end beams curvedoutwardly and downwardly, as shown, and cooperatively. with the axles,form bearing means. to retain the buffers 9, which may also be of anysuitable type. The arms 10, form the subsidiary frame supports, andextend outwardly beyond the line of the side beams. so as to increaseits equilibrial balance, reposing on the springs 4, and thedash-pots 5,which are each rigidly and independently secured to the said subsidiaryframe and the axles 6, both co- Fig. 17, is an end elevation of a,

acting to cushion the said frame, and, yet, their independent movementpermitting the dash-pots to check and arrest, the rebound of eitherresilient movement of the frame and prevent shocks and jars to themechanism mounted upon it. The springs 4, may be helical or of anysuitable form.

The dash-pots 5, are composed of an inner cylinder 11, one end of whichis removably secured, to enable the introduction of the piston 12, theother end of which is provided with a perforation 13, through whichpasses the piston rod let, the piston being provided .with a conicaldepression, 15, on its under side, and a plurality of conical dethepiston is a perforation 17, in which is located avalve 18, openingupwardly, and a second perforation-19, into which passes a slotted screwfor varying the size of the opening, the piston rod being secured to thehead of the outer cylinder, 20, which telescopes over the inner cylinder11, forming the air chamber 21. The dash-pots are secured to the axle(3, and the subsidiary frame. 3, by any well known means. Outside of thedash-pots is placed a coil spring. 4, also secured to the axle 6, andthe subsidiary frame 3. The inner cylinder of the dash- -pot is filledwith a 'non-evaporating liquid, the upper chamber 21, being filled withair.

\Vhenever the vehicle meets an obstruction,

thereby, raising the axle, the cylinder 11. will be suddenly raised,compressing the spring, and forcing the liquid beneath the pistonthrough the -valve port 17. (raising the valve 18'), into the chamber21, and above the piston, and the subsidiary frame with its load. onaccount of its inertia, will not be moved to any appreciable extent. Assoon asthe traction wheel has passed the obstruction, the weight on thesubsidiary frame, and the tension of the spring, will exert its force toreturn the piston to its normal position, but its movement cannot bequickerthanis permitted by the passage of the liquid through theregulated port, 19. thus preventing the usual shaking of the subsidiaryframe, which has such a destructive effect upon the o )erati\'emechanism.

The subsidiary 'frai'ne supports and car.- riesthe motor, 22. mounted asnear as possible to the surface of the roadway, the

crank shaft '23. provided with a gear 24.. which gears with the gear'25. on the under tive gear of the disk series. and raise or lower thegear. and change the motor speed of the disk. Said disk is p votallyrotatable onthe bracket 27, which may be of any suit able form, by thepivot 28, secured by a locknut 29, and has a central ball-bearing, 30,

and a ball bearing 31, near its periphery,

and the bracket is secured to'the subsidiary frame by the braces 32, theouter walls-of the bracket forming a casing, and support,- for .the ballbearings and the crank gear. Positioned above, and longitudinally acrossthe speed disk, and secured by the brace-brackets, 33, 34, and 35, isthe transmission shaft, 36, secured and rota-table in the bearin'gs, 37,38, 39 said shaft having a splin'ed slidable sleeve, 10, to which isrigidly secured the transmission-wheel, ll. To said sleeve are attachedthe dual collars, 4:2, 43, which are flexibly connected to the guide,44:, by the flexible guide member, 45. The shaft 36, has a universaljoint .16, near one end, and the oscillating joint, 47, at its otherend, the

oscillating joint being formed, by the bear ing slot, 18, in thebrace-bracket 49, the hearing 50, and the collar 51, the slot, anduniversal joint, permitting the shaft, 36, to move back and forth andoscillate, by the operative action of the spring, 52, and the lever 53.The shaft, 36, has a gear 54, at oneend, flexibly connected by anendless chain to the intermediate compound driving gear, 115.

Commercial vehicles, by their weight and purposes, are deprived of theuse and resiliency of air cushioned tires, and their motors are subjectto not only the rack of the road, but, the ruinous shocks and jars ofloading and unloading freight, conditions, that have heretofore made theuse of internal combustion engines, practically, prohibitive. Myconstruction, resiliently isolating the two carrying members, makes thefreight ride more easily, eliminates the 40 platform vibrations from themechanism,

the compound cushioning of the subsidiary frame, and its anti-recoil andanti-rebound provision, allows the motor and the operating machinery tobe cushion poised between the resilient vibrations. and saved all jarand strain.

The hollow axles 6, have live axles, 55, passing therethrough androtatable therein, their divided ends passing into depressions,

56, within each side and at the center of-the rotary member, 57, of thedifferential gear,

58, said axles having gear wheels, 59, rigidly attached near theirdivided ends, which gear with the wheels, 60, on the pintles, 61, saidwheels 60, being securedon their pintles by the annular member 62. whoseperiphery gears with the compound idle gears, 63, supported upon-theaxles. 6, by the compound brackets, 64. The live axles 55, have gears 5065, rigidly attached to their outer ends,

which mesh and gear with gears, 66 and 67,-

which in turn mesh and gear with the gears, 68, rigidly attached to thehubs of the traction wheels, said gears 65, 66,67, and 68, being housedWithin the-hollow knuckle, 69,

the art 70, and the part 71,'being unitedly I hinged together by therod, 72, thereby, forming a two-part turn knuckle,- said rod 72, thuskeeping the divided live axles and differential gears in operativeposition. The 79 knuckles 69, with the spindles 73, and hub orifices,74, being a modification of the knuckles embraced in my co-pendingappli-" cation for patent, Serial No, 368,806. The rotary member 57, ofthe differential gear is provided with solid projections, which form thepintles 61, and extend a trifle beyond the gear-wheels 60, which beingheld on these pintles by the annular member 62, the various members andconnections of the 30 differential gear-axle are held perfectly ,inplace, and operative'ly in position}, without bolts, screws, or pins,the only securing means on the entire gear being'the four countersunkscrews, 75; which secure the 5-5 four clasping countersunk flanges, 76,of the annular member, 62, to ,theyrotary member 57, the side wheels,59so snugly fitting against the sides of the annular member, that thedifferential gear forms itself into a cased gear, thus producing thestrongest, solid, simple, efficient gear, composed in its entirety, ofonly eight parts, insuring its easy running, integrity, andindest'ructibility. i I I The brackets 64, have horijzontalgmembers, 77,and 78, which unite'to hold the axles 6,- in operative position at theirpoint of division, and complementarypwith the perpendicular braces 79,80, and :81, support and hold the gears, 63, and the steering. axle 82,in operative position. The, steering axles 82, have gears 83, at each oftheir ends, which mesh and gear with gears-84, rigidly attached to thelower outer halves of the two-part knuckles 69, and which. turn,thetractionwheels when the steering axle 82 is rotated. Said steeringaxleis supportingly held in position by the compound brackets 64, and thecompound brackets 85, which also have the horizontal brace, 86', and theperpendicular braces, 87, 88, .89. Said bracket v85, supporting theidle-compound gear, 90, which idle gear is adapted to, al ternatively,gear, with either of the slidable gears, 91, or 92, rigidly fixed to theslidable sleeve. 93, said alternative steering mechanism beingconstructedas follows: A re-- inforcing cylinder, 94, is rigidly afiixedto the steering axles 82, to provide the vannular grooves 95 and 96,upon which member 94, x the slidable sleeve 93, having the shoulder, 97,at its extremity, which'is fittinglyro v tatable within the collaredannular groove, Q 98, formed at one end'of the reciprocating sleeve,99,-provided with the perforation 100, Y

the spring-bolt, 101, the spring 102, and the .splined'end 103, whichpermits the. reciprocation of said sleeve within the space 104:,provided "in the bracket brace 89. Said slidable sleeve 93, isalsoprovided with the annular shoulder 105, and the overfitting annularcollar, 106, to which is operatively connected the reciprocating lever,107, ful crumed to the brace 88. brackets 64 and 85, are triangular inform and substantially duplicates, and support the steering axles 82, ina parallel position, to the axles 6, in the following manner Theduplicate braces 79 and 81, afiixed, respectively,-to the axles 6, and82, as shown in Fig. 19, have a perpendicular middle member, 108, whichunites the. two axles, the horizontally extending member, 109, and theinclining member 81, forming the. two triangular members, whichunitingthe horizontal member 77, comprising a compound bracket, the member 77,having a perforation 11 0, through which the pintle, 111, extendingfronr the axle clasping portion,

4 passes, and upon which the compound idle gears 63, are rotatable, themember 77, being reinforced by the curved middle member 80,

thus providing unique, strong, simple, and

reliable means to support and operate the driving and steeringmechanism, and dispenses with the usual and objectionable shaftings.

The compound gears 63, which rotate the live-axles, through thedifferentials, 58, are flexibly geared, by the endless chain 112, withthe compound gears, 113, rigidly attached to the hollow driving shaft114, and mesh and gear with the intermediate compound gear, l15, whichgear 115, is flexibly geared with the transmission shaft gear 54, andthus drives the traction wheels, when said transmission gear is rotated.The compound gear 63, and differential,*58, are duplicated on theduplicate axles, 6, and flexibly geared bythe endless chain, 116, withthe gear 117, rigidly secured to the other end of the hollow drivingshaft 114, the duplicated driving mechanism being substantially,identical. Passing through, and rotatable within, the hollow drivingshaft, 114, is the steering shaft 118, which. has dupli- -cate ears,119, near both of itsends, which ar exibly geared with the duplicatecompound idle gears 90, by the duplicate endless chains, 120. Thesteering shaft 118, is provided with duplicate gears 12-1, at itsextremities, which mesh and gear with the (111-.

, plieafie: 1 intermediate gears, 122, which in turn mesh and gear withthe duplicate Worm gears, 123, operatively connected with the duplicatecompound steering posts, 124. ,1:- The "compound driving and steeringshafts,

and 118, are supportingly secured and united to,-and directly beneaththe platform, 1, by compound brackets, 125. This economic adjustment andlocation allowing ami ple space for the resilient action of theindependently cushioned frames, and the mechanism mounted thereon. Theworm The compound.

either or both ends.

123, is secured within the socket, 126, by a ball 127, intern'iediateits stock, which ball permits said worm to oscillate into and out ofoperative gearing position, and is held out of operative gearingconnection by the spring 128, to prevent any back locking of thesteering mechanism, when the operator is driving the vehicle, from itsduplicate opposite end. The said worm has va square shank, 129, at oneextremity, provided with a conical end, said shank being adapted tosecurely fit within the key end of the steering post, when placed inoperativeposition. Around the socket 126, is a thimble, 13,0, providedwith an outward annular flange, 131, and an inwardly annular flange,132. The thimble is surrounded by an annular plate, 133, provided withan annular depression, 13.4, in which rests the flange of the thimble,between which are located ball bearings, 135, said plate being securedby bolts, 135 to the floor of the housing-repositories 136, a flangedfloor plate, 136, secured to the floor by screws 137, holding thethimble in place. A wheel, 138, is securedto the lower end of thethimble, by screw bolts, 139, through its annular flange, 140, saidwheel being adapted to accommodate the cable 141, for moving thetransn'iission wheel. The compound steering and speed. varying posts124, are constructed with a shaft, 142, provided with I an enlargement,143, at its lower end, with the key hole 144, which fits over the shank.129, its outer perimeter being circular, and fitting snugly within thethimble. Said shaft 142, is provided with a steering wheel, 145, hingedto a' projection, 146, which permits said wheel to swing toward theshaft, when the handle is detached for storing, in the housingrepository, the upper rim of said wheel, being provided with minute, butreadable projections, 147, that form a scaledial. The shaft 142, issurrounded by the cylinder, 148, provided with an enlargement 149, whichhas inclined grooves 150, which register with ribs, 151, on the outerperimeter of the thimble. Projecting from the top of the cylinder is apointing finger, 152, from which depends a handle, 153. This compoundpost rests in operative position by the force of gravity, and when inposition holds the worm in gear with the intermediate gear-wheel.

At each end of the platform, and secured to the sidings 154, areguide-rails, 155, on which the gates 156, are hung, said gates beto theoutside of the sidings, thereby producing an unobstructed vehicle bodythat may be simultaneously loaded and unloaded, at

Said guide-rails permit the gates to be located and fastened inposition, at the extreme end of the body,

when the vehicle is operated at the opposite end, and it also enablesthe opposite gate to ing adapted to fold, slide, and swing around besecured across the duplicate and in the rear of the seat of theoperator. when such seat is in seating position. This of course.

' would be the relative positions of the gates when the vehicle wasoperated from the' other end.

The guide all, is reciprocated by a cable 111, secured to one end of theguide and passing over the wheel 136 connected to the compound steeringpost thimble. said cable extending to the other end of the vehicle.passing oyer the duplicate wheel, 13S, and returning, is secured to theother end of the guide, this guide being a sleeve, that is supported bythe guide-rail 157. which is fastened to the under side of the platform.V

At each end of the platform are duplicate depressions, 158, providedwith hinged covers, 159, that may serve when elevated as foot-rests, andwhen closed forming a part of the flooring of the platform. In thesehousing-repositories are located all the foot treadles for operating thevehicle and the duplicate compound steering and speed varying posts,saidposts being laid and stored in one of said repositories, when not inoperative position, when the vehicle is beingdriven and operated fromits opposite end.

For vehicles of the type shown in Fig. 1, are provided at each end, theduplicate re-. positories, 160, for housing the operators seats, 161.One side of said seats being cushioned, the other side forming thecovers to the repositories, and part .of the vehicle flooring when theseats are stored in the housings. This is accomplished by pivoting saidseats in the end headers, 162, at their centers, 163, enabling the seatstobe reversed by turning on the pivots at these points. 7

. The numerals, 164, 165, represent supporting folding legs, soconstructed that they will lie longitudinally in the platform asindicated by dotted lines at left end of Fig. 4, where one seat is shownreversed and-closing the repository. I

The speed of the vehicle depends upon, and is varied and indicated, bythe'ge-neral construction and arrangement, in the following manner :Amotor capable of givmg a certaln number of revolutions of itspower-shaft, is-so geared to the speed disk that When said disk isrotated to its highest speed, the transmission Wheel can be moved acrossthe disk to. the highest speed range of the disk, thus gaining by themost simple gearing means, a greatly increased speed for the vehicle. Bythe horizontal disposition of said disk and the increased width of theframe, permitted by the wheel ports, the diameter 'of the speed disk is,also, so greatly increased, that a much higher range of speed issecured, by a relatively lower percentage of motor horse-power,

ranges from, zero to its highest limit, while the ordinarily constructedmotor-vehicle possesses only three or four speed changes, controlled bycogtransmission gears, and their dangerous liability of strippin-g".

The position of the transmission wheel 41, is indicated by the positionof the finger 152. of the compound steering and speed varying posts,124, beneath the steering wheel, 1+5. *he'n the position of the steeringwheel is such as tocause'the vehicle to run in a direction straightahead and the finger 152. is pointing directly backward, the positiono'fthe transmission wheel is at the center of the disk, and consequently,the speed of the vehicle is zero, but, when the finger is moved forwardtoward the left. the speed will; be increased until the finger pointsdirectly ahead, or is moved one hundred and eighty degrees of a circle,when the vehicle WillLhave attained its highest speed, each variation ofthe speed being registered on the speed dial, by the position of thefinger, the relation of the finger, and the speed dial, beingillustrated in Fig. 20.

The duplicate, reversible two-part swivel jointed seats, 166, shown inFig. 25, are provided for vehicles of the type illustrated in Fig. 2,each half seat being adapted to re pose within the openings 167, at eachend of the sidings, wlien not in seating position. Headers, 168, havingextending lugs 169, that fit into: eyes at-the bottom of the openings,and form hinging' means for. the seats, are provided with the centrallylocated holes, 170, into which fit the pivots 171, on the ends of theseats, and form their swivel joints. These half seats lap upon eachother, and are supportingly united at their divided centers, by slidableside brace-bars 172, reciprocal in the channels 163, the cornerindentures 174, 'permittingthe seats to pass by, and then rest on thesupports and gearing therein, are essential to hold the differentialgear together in operative relation, the construction producing, in

fact, a differential gear-axle. The almostincalculable advantage ofthls' vehicle to a commercial establishment, consists in the fact thatthe operator can clear his vehicle in a few seconds and unload, or

175, which fit into the mortises, 176, on the-115 I load it at, or from,either end: can drive, op-

erate, and steer it at, and from, either end; can steer it uponanyradius of a circle,it can be spun around like a top, can, alternatively,steer it, sidewise, as readily, as

forward and backward; that its higlrspeed horse power, reducing the costof maintenance; and the fact that the loaded vehicle can be driven byone end into narrow spaces and driveways, instantly cleared of allobstruction, and unloaded, and reloaded from, and at, both or eitherend, and operated, steered, and

- driven out from the opposite end, and continued upon the route,without backing or turning the vehicle around, insures alike, to theowner and operator a double-end, double operating,t-wo vehiclesinonereally efficient, reliable, dependable motor-vehicle.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Avehicle provided with a plurality of supporting wheels each wheel beingpivotally secured to the vehicle and capable of being swung through anangle of one hundred and eighty degrees, steering mechanism operativelyconnected to swing the wheels upon their pivotai connection through an.angle of one hundred and eighty degrees, the vehicle being providedwith recesses or ports adapted to receive the wheels when swungthe-reinto.

2. .A motor vehicle provided with a motor, four supporting tractionwheels operatively connected to be rotated by the motor, and arranged inpairs, one pair of traction Wheels located at each end of the vehicle,each traction Wheel being pivotally connected to the vehicle and adaptedto be turned on a vertical pivot at right angles to the longitudinalaxis of the vehicle either to the lighter to the left, connectingmechanism between each tractionwheel of a pair to cause both tractionwheels of the pair to be turned in the same direction, mechanismconnecting each pair of traction wheels provided'with operating handlesat each end of thevehicle and, also with shifting mechanism adapted tocause each pair of traction wheels to be turned in the same direction,or in the opposite direction whereby the vehicle may be moved either incircumferences of circles whose radii may vary from infinity tosubstantially the length of the vehicle or to be translated bodily onany radii of a circle, and operated at either end.

3.. A motor vehicle provided with four supporting traction wheelssecured to vertical pivots, a motor attached to the vehicle,

operating mechanism connecting the 'motor and the traction wheels torotate the traction wheels, mechanism connecting the traction wheels inpairs toturn the traction wheels by.

pairs at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in eitherdirection to the right or to the left, connecting mechanism providedwithoperating handles at each end of the vehicle, and shifting mechanismin operative relation with said connecting'mechw nism for permittingeach pair of traction wheels to be turned in the same orin oppositedirection either to the right or to the left of the longitudinal axis ofthe vehicle.

4. A vehicle provided with four supporting traction wheels arranged inpairs, steering mechanism connecting each pair of traction wheelsprovided with shifting mechanism adapted to 'permit each pair oftraction wheels to be turned in the same direction either to the rightor to the left of the lonnecting the shafts to the spindles, a steeringpost located at each end of the vehicle, a shaft running at right anglesto the axles adapted to be operated by the steering posts at each end,gearing connecting said shaft with each of the first mentioned shafts,means forming part of said connecting gearing to cause said firstmentioned shafts to rotate in the same or opposite directions, wherebythe spindles are caused to swing in the same or in the reversedirection.

6. In a motor vehicle, duplicate axles, spindles hinged to each end ofthe axles, shafts running parallel with each axle. geared to thespindles, a steering post located at each end of the vehicle, a steeringshaft running at right angles to the axles provided with gears at eachend each adapted to be operated by steering posts, other gears connectedto the steering shaft, endless chains, passing over each of said lastnamed gears, idle gears over which the endless chains pass, duplicatesleeves slidable upon.

' degrees steering gear connected to move all dred and eighty degrees, amotor operativelv connected to' rotate the four traction wheelssimultaneously, steerlng mechanism connecting the traction wheels,shifting connected with the steering mechanism mechanism so that thetraction wheels may all be swungin the same direction or two tractionwheels may be swung in an opposite steering mechanism adapted to-beoperated 11. A vehicle provided with a plurality of,

supporting and steering wheels each rotatably secured to an aXle, saidaxles being secured to the vehicle by vertical pivots and capable ofbeing moved on said pivots through an angle of one hundred and eightythe wheels on their vertical pivots simultaneously. operating meanslocated at a plurality of positions on the vehicle connected to thesteering gear and shifting mechanism connected to the steering gear tocause the steering gear to move all the wheels on their pivots either inthe same direction or to move some of the wheels in an oppositedirection to that of the otherwheels.

12. A vehicle having a plurality of supporting and steering wheels oneor more located at each end of the'vehicle, steering gear connecting thewvheels, operating mechanism for the steermg gear located at each end ofthe vehicle, shifting mechanism connected to the steering gear adaptedto permit the wheels located at one end of the vehicle to be steered inthe same or the opposite direction to the wheels at the oppoablesimultaneously on the axes of their respective joints, a knuckle jointfor each wheel, a steering device for'operating said connectingmechanism and for simultaneously swinging said wheels into their re:.spective wheel ports.

14. A vehicle provided with four supporting and steering wheels arrangedin pairs at each end of the vehicle, said vehicle being provided with awheel port to accommodate each wheel when swung at right angles to thenormal running position, a knuckle joint for connecting each wheel tothe vehicle, mechanismconnecting the wheels of each pair so that theymust be swung in the same direction, mechanism connecting each pair ofwheels, shiftlng mechanism connected to the connecting mechanism topermit the pairs ofwheels to be swung in the same or in oppositedirections, operating mechanism for the shlftlng mechanlsm and operatingmechanlsm for the steerlng connectlon to swing the wheels into the portsat right angles to their normal position.

- 1.5. A motor vehicle provided with four supporting traction andsteering wheels rotatably secured to spindles, spindles pivot- .a'llysecured to the vehicle, a frame provided with wheel ports, steering gearconnected to swing the spindles through an an-, gleof one hundred andeighty degrees, shifting mechanism connected to the steering gear topermit two end wheels to be swung either in the same or oppositedirection to the other two end wheels, a motor connected to rotate allfour traction wheels, means to cause the traction wheels to rotate inreverse directions, .said steering means, shifting means and reversingmeans adapted to be operated at both ends of the vehicle.

16. A motor vehicle provided with four supporting traction and steeringwheels connected in pairs at each end of the vehicle, steering mechanismconnecting the pairs of wheels and adapted to be operated at both endsof the vehicle, shifting mechanism connected to the steering mechanismadapted to permit one pair of wheels to be steered in the same or in theoppositeidirection and operioe rection, .means for swinging the wheelsand means for shifting the swinging means so that some of the wheels maybe swung in a direction opposite the other wheels. r

19. A motor vehicle having a platform,

steering posts located each end of the vehicle on opposite sides of thecentral axis of the vehicle, duplicate-motor controllers adjacentjthesteering posts, and duplicate.

displaceable seats mounted rearward of the steering posts.

20. A motor vehicle having a platform, steering posts located at eachendof the vehicle, duplicate motor controllers adjacent the steeringposts, and duplicate displaceable seats mounted rearwardof the steeringposts adapted to form part of the platform and be flush 'with thesurface thereof when not in use as a seat.

21. A motor vehicle having a load supporting body provided withcontrolling means for-the vehicle at each end thereof and doors or.gates at each end of the body adapted to be opened and closed at each orboth ends of .the body.

22. A moto'r vehicle having a load supporting bod provided withcontrolling -means for t e vehicle and seats for the chauffeur at each"end of the body, end gates passageway for loading and unloadingthevehicle.

23. A motor vehicle having a platform for supporting a load, means forcontrolling the movement of the vehicle at each end adapted to beoperated by a chauffeur seated on the platform and means for housing ofsaid means forcontrolling the movement of the vehicle whereby the endsof the platform may be free from any obstruction to passage of the loadon or oil at the ends of the platform. r

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

CHAS. BREWSTER STEELE. \Vitnesses ALEX. Sco'r'r, DANIEL WV. EDELIN.

